Page 2 of Forgotten Secrets (Secrets of the Heart 4)

“Barnaby, why are ye here?” asked Morag, turning her attention to the messenger so her father wouldn’t see the disappointment on her face.

“Aye,” said Reed, still holding tightly to his sword. “What would cause ye to risk yer lives with a trip onto Scottish soil?”

“We come in peace, Douglas. You can put away the sword,” stated one of the guards, lifting his hands to show he wasn’t a threat and held no weapon.

“I’ll no’ put down the sword unless I feel like it,” snapped Reed. “After all, ye are stinkin’ Sassenachs and ye are on my land and uninvited.”

“Faither, please,” begged Morag as she spied one of the guards move his hand toward his sword. She had to interfere before a fight broke out. “It’s all right, Da. I’m sure they mean us no trouble.” She reached out and rested her hand on her father’s forearm.

“That’s right,” said the messenger. “We are here at the request of Lady Rothbury to deliver a message.” Barnaby reached down from atop his horse, handing Reed the missive.

“Did ye say, Lady Rothbury?” Reed reluctantly sheathed his sword, keeping his eyes on the guards’ movements at all times. Then he took the parchment from the boy. “Dinna ye mean Earl Rothbury?”

“Nay, my lord,” answered the boy with a quick shake of his head.

“I’m no’ a laird,” grumbled Reed, opening the missive and scanning it quickly.

Morag watched as her father’s face clouded over. His mouth turned down in a frown.

“What is it, Da?” asked Morag in concern.

“Here. Read it for yerself.” Reed handed the parchment to Morag and looked back at the house. “Conall, Dugal, come take care of the horses,” Reed called out, causing Morag’s brothers to run out of the cottage so quickly that Morag realized they had been waiting at the door. Then her father spoke to the guards. “Ye are welcome to come inside the house to rest for a spell. My wife, Maggie, will offer ye food and ale.”

“Much obliged,” said one of the guards as they dismounted their steeds.

Morag read the missive, feeling her heart skip a beat in surprise. “Nay!” she exclaimed, not wanting to believe what she read. “The earl has died!”

“What is it, Morag?” Fia rushed out of the cottage with her mother at her side. “What’s wrong?”

Branton followed behind them carrying the baby, apparently so distracted by Fia and her daughter that he hadn’t even told them the sad news.

“Lord Rothbury died fightin’ for the king,” said Morag, unable to believe that their guardian was gone. She felt a surge of grief wash through her.

“Nay!” shouted Fia, grabbing the parchment from Morag to see it. “It canna be true.”

“It is,” said Branton, bouncing the baby in his arms and making faces at the little girl until she smiled. “Since the earl has died without issue, the king said Castle Rothbury and all the earl’s holdings are going to be given away.”

“Given away?” asked Morag’s mother. “I canna believe it.”

“Why tell us?” sniffed Reed. “We are Scottish and have no interest in any castle or lands unless they are on this side of the border.”

Branton continued to make faces at the baby as he explained everything to them. “Lady Rothbury is having a huge gathering at the castle. King Richard won’t let her keep it since she is a woman and the earl had no heir. Since the earl died protecting Richard, he has allowed Lady Rothbury to help decide who will claim the earl’s demesne.”

“She wants us all to come for the feast,” said Morag excitedly. “It said so in the missive. Da, mayhap ye’ll get a castle like Uncle Rook and Uncle Rowen after all.”

“If I own a castle someday, it’ll be in Scotland, no’ England,” snapped Reed. He pulled the missive out of Fia’s hand and shoved it back at the messenger. “As soon as the horses are rested and ye’ve had yer fill to eat, ye and yer guards can head right back to Rothbury. Tell the earl’s wife thank ye but that we decline the invitation.”

“Da, nay!” cried Morag, knowing this was her only chance to get back to England. “We were invited, and it is only proper that we go.”

“Morag, I canna go,” said Fia. “I need to get back to the Highlands. Alastair is waitin’ for me. Plus, it is too dangerous of a trip for the bairn.” She reached over and took her baby back from Branton.

“We want to go,” shouted out Conall as the twins took the reins of the guards’ horses.

“Aye, Da, we want to live in a castle,” added Dugal.

“Be quiet,” scolded their mother. “Yer faither has already made his decision and we’ll respect it.”

“Lads, ye are old enough now that ye’ll stay here to be married this spring,” Reed announced.

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